In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, “The Hunger Games,” a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

The Hunger Games by Suzanna Collins; originally published by Scholastic Press, New York: 2008

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The Hunger Games are an annual event that take place in Panem. Two children from each of the twelve districts are chosen to fight to the death in an arena. The event is televised to all districts. One child survives and becomes the victor of the Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister’s place when she is chosen for this year’s Hunger Games. The Hunger Games has been seen as violent because it depicts acts of violence portrayed by children. It has also been challenged for its religious views and for being unsuitable for its intended age group (Marshall University Library, 2015).